Netta Asner Minster

Recently I ran a Hebrew mini-course. As we read the Amidah, the silent prayer, we encountered the word ' hasid'.  One of the participants asked if this is the source of the word that the ' hasidic ' movement comes from? What does this word mean and why was it chosen? When many of us say ' hasidic'  it is synonymous with ultra-Orthodox or  haredi  Jews. But in fact a ' hasidic'  Jew is a particular kind of ultra-Orthodox Jew that stems from the  hasidut  movement that started in the 1700's....

Winter has begun in Israel and we are praying for rain daily. Because rain is seasonal here, it's crucial for crops and water sources. This made me think further about the fact that mikveh, ritual baths, must derive from a natural water source ( sidenote:  it is only a small portion of the mikveh water but it must be present). Why is that? First, it is important to understand what the mikveh was and is now used for. Originally, one immersed in a mikveh to purify one's self to visit,...

I love being in synagogue on Shabbat this time of year. The parasha (portion of the week) is filled with interesting stories. There's so much to learn from the interactions and relationships we read about every week. Being in Israel as we read these parshiyot  makes it even more meaningful. The Torah truly comes alive. What do I mean? This past Sunday was the 11th of Cheshvan, which is the date our matriarch Rachel passed away on the way to Bethlehem. It is a date that many go to visit her...